Pressed-metal keg



April 28, 19 31. E. J. x-:RlKssoN- PRESSED METAL KEG Filed March 5. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet v1 April 28, 1931. E. J. ERIKSSON PRESSED METAL KEG Filed Maron 5, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 28, 1931 rsezss PATENT FFICE ERIK J'. ERIKSON,`0F DULUTE, MINNESOTA PR-ESSED-METAL KEG Application filed March 5, 1927. Serial No. 173,121.

My invention relates to pressed metal kegs, and more particularly to the type of keg composed of a plurality of pressed metal staves assembled with metal end pieces and hoopsin the manner of the customary wooden keg.

f D My invention also relates to a process of making the pressed metal staves which constitute a keg of the type contemplated by my invention.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a pressed metal keg constructed .of pressed metal staves and end pieces and held in assembled relation'by metal hoops, Vall of the parts being assembled yand constructed in the same general manner as parts of wooden kegs.

inother object of my invention is to provide a keg madeof metal staves, each of whichhas side flanges on adjacent edges in assembled relation so that by contact they exert the necessary expanding force for creating tension on the hoops. L

AnotherI object of my invention is to provide a keg made of pressed metal staves, the

staves having notched or recessed end pieces which'constitute a the end pieces.

Another object of my inventionis to provide pressed metal staves having bosses symmetrically arranged on their length onthe outer surface and at their ends for the purpose of retaining the hoops.

Another object of my invention is to provide a keg made of pressed metal staves, each of which has an arcuate bend or bilge vboth longitudinally and transversely in the form of a customary wooden stave thereby making it possible to use existing well established and smooth operating keg assembling and packing machinery for assembling the keg.

A further object of my invention is to provide a pressed metal stave of the type described inthe above stated objects which is provided with a bent over end piece and a bilge whereby a stave is provided having argreater degree of strength, insuring the completed keg against wrinkling or telescoping action when under load.

' A further object of my invention is to proyielding croze for holding vide pressed metal staves of the type described in the above stated objects, in which the ends are provided with transverseridges and recesses to form a croze at each end, and the ends so formed being bent upon them- -selves but spaced therefrom to form a yieldmg holding means for the keg ends.

Another object of my invention is to provide a keg of the above described type having ends made of two metallic sections.

A further object of my invention is to provide a process for forming the above enumerated features.

, These and other objects are accomplished by means of the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which"- y ,Y

Figure 1 lis a side elevation of a keg constructed in `accordance with my invention; Y Figure2 is an the keg, partly incross section so as to reveal the interior thereof; l j

Figure 3 is a perspective view of* a stave constructed in accordance with this invention; and Y Figures 4 to 7. inclusive show the various steps in the process of forming the stave.

The various novel features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and drawings and will be particularly pointedv out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, it will be noted that my invention relates to a keg 10 made up of'a plurality, of staves l1 placed in a ,f

l and held, thus-assembled, by suitable hoops 12 and end hoops 13. `Hoops 13, it will be noted, are held against displacement by the circumferential general circular `relation flange 14 whereas the hoops 12 abut the surface bosses 15 formed on each stave.

Referring to Figure 2,'it will be noted that n each stave has an end portion 16 bent back upon itself as at l? which forms a rounded outer edge for the keg, the end 16 being bent to form a croze 18 and an attaching flange 19 at its end. Attention is called to the fact that thev croze 18 is spaced fromA the main portion 10 of the stave so that the croze'will be capable of the inherent resilience of the metal emthe arrangement disclosed on enlarged half-portion of E."

of yielding outwardly by virtue kegs embodying f ployed. Each stave is formed with a side flange 20 at each side thereof so that the side flanges of adjacent staves abut each other to form a. resilient engagement acting to effect an expansion of the stares in assembled relation; it serves to hold the staves more tightly engaged by the retaining hoops 12 and 13.

The keg is provided with end members which may he a solid disc of sheet material or may be, as shown in the drawing, composed of three pressed metal members .21 and 22, the members 21 being provided with a flange as at 23 and both having flanges as at 24 adapted to abut each other. Both outside members are of identical structure and are therefore both referred to by numeral 21.

Referring now to Figures 4 to 7, it Will be noted that the process for making .staves according to this invention contemplates the formation of a blank 25 stamped from sheet material by a shearing device, .the .blank being the4 correct size and shape `to form the completed stave. The blank thus formed Vis placed in an end forming vdie wherein it Will be formed with .recesses 26 and 27 and shoulf ders 28, 29 yand 30 athoth ends. The stave is then placed in an end folding device wherein each stave end will be turned vthrough approximately 180, as shown in Figure 6, thereby placing the keg-end recesses and shoulders in aV normal position relative to the completed stave so as to form the croze 18 and the rend -ange 19 Aas shown in Figure 2. This operation must .be so detailed as to prevent distortion of the shoulders and recesses formed under operation two alcove described. The stave is then placedina main vstave forming die wherein W'ill be produced the double curvature, that is, the longitudinal or bilge and the transverse curvatures of the stave; the projections or bosses .15 for retaining the intermediate hoops -o-r bands of the assembled keg; as Well as the flangesjZO of the stave. -Duringthis operation, kit Willhe necessary to retain the recesses and shoulders for receiving the keg-ends in their true shape and position relativ-.e to fthe completedlstave. This may be accomplished by inserting `secondary dies of a jointed-Enger construction into the recesses 26 and 27. It is intended that such jointed-finger dies Will retain the shape nand size of the recesses and shoulders .during the time interval When the body of the stares is being bilged by the action of the main dies.

Itis also true that during the lastdie forming operation, the side flanges 2O are bent up at right angles to the main body of the stave, as `shown in Figure 7, and also that the bosses 15 are formed. Attention is called to the fact that the bosses 15 may be formed during operation number two at the time the recesses and shoulders are formed in the end portions. l

...The keg-end pieces Will be formed by first shearing a blank from sheet material, and then by the action of folding dies, the flanges are formed on each of the two shapes.

The sheet metal, from Which the staves and the end pieces are to be shaped, is to be of such a gauge and of such a hardness as Will best lend itself to forming and assembling, and at the same time'attain the strength necessary for the service, for which the keg is intended to be used. It is intended that these requirementsare :best -to be ascertained, from actual trial manufacture of the keg. In any event, it Will be necessary to use as light weight of metal as is possible, to minimize the `shipping Weight; as Well as from an economic standpoint, .of `manufacturing cost. To meet these requirements, it is suggested that 20 gan-ge sheet iron be used when it is intended that the keg .is to be used .as a package for 100 pounds of nails.

Tt is intended that the class of machinery now in vogue for this class of `work shall loe adopted, in principle, for the manufacture of the keg-ends. As there are two different shapes required for the ends, it will he necessary to provide interchangeable dies forsuch machinery.

It is .intended .that the .-same type of Wire hoops or steel bands, ora .combination of Wire hoops andsteel bands., .shall be used, .as is .at if `present used in .assembling wooden stave kegs. However, after the hoops or bands havebeen pressed in place, .back of the bosses each may be spot Welded .at four equally .spaced 4circumferential location s, 15 or tothe body of thes'taves. This will be in lieu of the nailing, required in Wooden-stave keg construction.

In placing the heads, after the ke'gs have been packed, .the process will be Asimilar -to' that .in vogue in placing the 'heads in Wooden kegs; except that spot Welding may also be substituted here for the nailing operation.

From the .above description it Will .be manifest that `a keg .embodying the many ,advantages is provided, among which are the following:

The set-ting up .of the keg Will'be expedited inasmuch as a .definite number of rpressed steel staves I.of uniform size will be used for each and every keg, thereby eliminating the trial fits which are found necessary in placing the final stave inkegs of .a Wooden construction;

Also, the parts from which a number vof kegs will be made up will be nniform in size and Weight, thereby tare Weighing will be eliminated When shipping in such kegs.;

All kegs Will have uniformi-ty of strength, size and appearance; Uneconomic waste will be eliminated since the stampings resulting from the blanks will be returned .to the melting furnace as scrap.;

The use of multiple .part steel keg will permit a possibility Vof returny of the :container either to the'bosses f from the consumer through the medium of the retailer. In such event, the empty kegs would be knocked down and bundled, to eliminate bulkiness in shipping;

Kegs made according to my invention also render the manufacturer independent of an uncertain and fast material required for wooden keg construction, whereas he will be enabled to carry on the manufacture of kegs with certain slight alterations to his present plant; v

Lastly, the use of pressed metal parts eliminates the necessity of keeping on hand a highly infiammable stock of wooden staves, thereby reducing the iire risk resulting in reduced insurance rates.

I cla-im:

1. A metallic barrel stave, having transversely grooved end portions bent upon itself to form crozes for the barrel ends, each end portion being sp-aced from the main portion of the stave but being attached thereto at their inner ends.

2. A metallic barrel stave, having transversely grooved end portions, bent irst in one direction to form an external boss, and then upon itself in the opposite direction to form crozes for the barrel ends, each end portion being spaced from the main portion of the sta-ive but being attached thereto at their inner en s.

3. A metallic barrel stave having its ends bent outwardly and then inwardly upon itself to form an enlarged protecting end portion to serve as a. part of a barrel base, said enlargement also forming a ridge for engaging a retaining hoop.

4. A metallic barrel stave having integrally formed portions at its ends, said portions being spaced from said stave and having their ends secured to said stave, said portions being shaped to form Crozes for the barrel ends, and being slightly yielding at the location of said Crozes.

5. A metallic barrel stave having an end bent outwardly, over and then inwardly to form an enlarged end and then continuing substantially parallel to said stave, said parallel portion being shaped to form a croze for the barrel ends and being slightly yielding and finally extending toward said barrel stave and secured thereto.

6. A barrel comprising a plurality of metallic staves, yielding metallic means carried by said staves extending around the inside and at the ends of said barrel, said means being constructed to form a croze at each end of said barrel, said means having their inner ends supported by and secured to the inside surface of said staves.

Signed at Duluth, Minnesota, this 28 day of February, 1927.

ERIK JOS. ERIKSSON.

depleting source of raw 

